Comparing The Iliad and The Bible Essay - 2167 Words

Comparing The Iliad and The Bible Throughout recorded history, man has sought explanations for the various phenomena that occur in every facet of nature, and when no obvious answer is forthcoming, still a theory is often proposed. These explanatory theories, often taking the form of stories or chronicles, are usually linked to some sort of mysticism or divine intervention. By ascribing that which he does not understand to the gods’ will at work, man avoids facing up to his own lack of knowledge in a given area, and also draws comfort from assuming that the universe does indeed function under the guidance of divine beings. Thus the explanatory accounts that man crafts enhance his own security, quelling the fear of chaos that†¦show more content†¦In ancient Greek culture the gods were seen as taking a very active role in the development and course of human history. The entire Olympian pantheon, as well as many other less important divinities, meddles in human affairs to no end. The people of the ma ny city-states that composed Greece firmly believed that every aberration from normalcy was due to an act of the gods. Homer, the author of The Iliad, coined the prevalent religious beliefs of the time in his epic poems, showing the gods as temperamental and willful, meddlesome and dynamic. Homer’s entire poem is replete with instances of divine intervention in mortal lives, and no single major occurrence comes to pass unless it is the will of one of the many Olympian gods. Few major decisions are made without consulting the gods first, and the handful of instances in which one leader or another takes initiative almost always fails miserably. Life, according to the Greeks, is almost entirely rooted in their religion, as there is a god or goddess governing every aspect of the universe, and also because the gods so actively involve themselves in the everyday lives of mortals. A classic example of this divine involvement occurs within the first page of The Iliad. Achilles, the great hero of the Achaean armies, and Agamemnon the commander-in-chief of the Argives clash bitterly, and the entire epic centers on this conflict. Homer details the cause of thisShow MoreRelatedComparing The Iliad And The Bible, Jesus And Hector Die988 Words   |  4 PagesThroughout the Iliad and in the bible, Jesus and Hector die for different reasons; while on dies for honor and glory, the other dies for the salvation of others. Honor is defined as a high respect given to an individual that brings credit. To receive honor is paralleled to being crowned with jewels and being regarded as a role model to all. The society that the Iliad portrays is â€Å"centered on the battlefield of achievement and its rewards† (Homer, xxi). The figures in Homer’s epic poem, the Iliad, partakeRead MoreComparing The Epic The Iliad Against The Bible s First Book Genesis Essay1877 Words   |  8 PagesUpon initial consideration, comparing similarities in the Homeric epic The Iliad against the Bible’s first book Genesis would seem outlandish. The comparisons between the two tales may not be abundantly clear. The parables of the Bible serve as religious cornerstones for society, while Greek tragedies serve as the moral lessons on which our culture is predicated. Fate in both narratives is understood to be a governing body, with a prominence being placed on remaining on the course with that whichRead More A Co mparison of Homeric Formalism in The Iliad and The Odyssey1339 Words   |  6 PagesHomeric Formalism in The Iliad and The Odyssey Much that is terrible takes place in the Homeric poems, but it seldom takes place wordlessly... no speech is so filled with anger or scorn that the particles which express logical and grammatical connections are lacking or out of place. (from Odysseus Scar by Erich Auerbach)    In his immaculately detailed study comparing the narrative styles of Homer to those of the Bible, Erich Auerbach hits upon one of the most notable intriguesRead MoreIntroduction. The Bible Is One Of The Bestselling Books1139 Words   |  5 PagesINTRODUCTION The Bible is one of the bestselling books in the world, for this reason it is incredibly important for Christians and non-Christians alike to examine the reliability of the text. Because the nature of this paper is rather short, the historical evidence outlined will be brief and not all-inclusive. This paper will examine the writings and thoughts of many great people including Joshua McDowell, J. Walter Wallace and William Craig. For the purpose of clarity when discussing the Bible or ScripturesRead MoreSimilarities Between Paradise Lost And Paradise Lost1239 Words   |  5 Pagescontrast Paradise Lost with the three other epics of antiquity. The epics are Paradise Lost, Aeneid, The Epic Gilgamesh, and The Iliad. The most obvious difference is era. Paradise Lost is an epic poem from the 17th century and is written in blank verse which is the most modern phrasing method. According to an article on Enotes, out of the other three epics, the Iliad and Aeneid came from the same dactylli c family. (â€Å"Compare Miltons Paradise Lost†). Meanwhile The Epic Gilgamesh is more old-fashionedRead MoreGreek Mythology Vs Roman Mythology1256 Words   |  6 PagesThis illustrates the point that the Romans weren’t too interested in you unless you were part god in some way. Granted, many of the Greek stories also featured these demigods, however, they also had many stories that featured normal people. When comparing these two religions, it is clear that the Greeks placed much more emphasis on the appearance of their deities. The faces of gods were shown to be beautiful and their bodies were even more perfect still. The Greeks treated the gods like fashion modelsRead MoreNietzsches critique of Plato and Christianity2437 Words   |  10 Pagesand asks us not to feel negated when encountering suffering and enter the world of nihilistic pity. The denial of power and responsibility that Christianity imposed, according to Nietzsche, may be exemplified with Matthew’s ‘Sermon on the Mount’, (Bible, 5:3), â€Å"Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth†¦Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.† Nietzsche claims that wordsRead MoreThe Reading Of The Hebrew Bible1867 Words   |  8 PagesIn the required reading of The Hebrew Bible, the character referred to as God is represented as a very mysterious character in several different instances. God appears to test the humans He creates periodically without cause. He punishes more than just the guilty offenders with His wrath and yet will reward the unfavorable actions of others. He appears to be a constant contradiction of His own ethical code leaving a sense of confusion towards any definition of morality. In the beginning of GenesisRead MoreExegesis on Exodus 202270 Words   |  10 PagesBible Exegesis: Exodus 20 Prior to beginning this assignment, I had already found a passionate interest in theology, primarily the logical historical analysis of the Old Testament. I had read several books on the topic, but still had a thirst for more knowledge. With that said, my preceding assumptions predominantly consisted of skepticism towards the religious interpretation of the Old Testament. I believed that Exodus 20 was a prime example of the religious establishment interpreting an ancientRead MoreSecret Intelligence Service and Espionage4647 Words   |  19 Pagesare many examples that show it. The importance of espionage in military affairs has been recognized since the beginning of recorded history. The Egyptians had a well-developed secret service, and spying and subversion are mentioned in the  Iliad  and in the Bible. The ancient Chinese treatise (c.500 B.C.) on the art of war devotes much attention to deception and intelligence gathering, arguing that all war is based on deception. In th e Middle Ages, political espionage became important.  Joan of Arc  was